Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2016/105

Contact: David Tole, Safety & Area Steward Manager Tel: (01865) 815942/07920084148

Report by Director for Infrastructure Delivery (CMDE7).

The report presents objections and comments received in the course of a statutory consultation on a proposal to install a puffin crossing on the London Road at Wheatley northwest of its junction with The Glebe, and also the provision of waiting restrictions in the vicinity of two new accesses to residential development on the north side of London Road.

Consultation on a proposal to provide a puffin crossing (a signal controlled crossing for use by pedestrians) had initially been carried out in the summer of 2016 when objections received were reported to the Cabinet Member for Environment on 24 November 2016 who at that time agreed to review possible alternative locations for the crossing with further consultation on a revised crossing location.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment is RECOMMENDED to approvethe implementation of the proposals as advertised and described in the report CMDE7.

Approved

Consultation on a proposal to provide a puffin crossing had initially been carried out in the summer of 2016 with objections received reported to the Cabinet Member for Environment on 24 November 2016 who, at that time, agreed to defer a decision pending a review of alternative locations for the crossing and further consultation on a revised crossing location.  The Cabinet Member now considered (CMDE7) objections and comments received in the course of a statutory consultation on a proposal to install a puffin crossing on the London Road at Wheatley northwest of its junction with The Glebe, together with provision of waiting restrictions in the vicinity of two new accesses to residential development on the north side of London Road.

Alan Johnson advised there were still major concerns for pedestrian safety with the proposed siting. It was not on a desire line and the St Mary’s Close Action Group felt that the proposal had been inappropriately assessed. He did not accept the rationale that siting a crossing east of the junction with the Glebe did not meet Department of Transport guidance because of its position in relation to side road junctions and as far as he was concerned that had not been applied to other crossings on London Road. He asked the Cabinet Member to reject the location proposed in favour of the desire line as suggested.

Councillor Purse expressed similar concerns to Mr Johnson with regard to the desire line. Her expectation was that rather than effectively use 3 sides of a square in order to cross people would try to rush across. She supported siting the facility further east

Officers pointed out that the kerbline around The Glebe was not pedestrian friendly and having regard to the general layout in the area and the fact there would be two crossings this represented the best compromise location.

Having regard to the arguments and options set out in the report before him and the representations made to him at the meeting the Cabinet Member for Environment accepted that the proposed site was the most appropriate and therefore confirmed his decision as follows:

to approvethe implementation of proposals fo a puffin crossing and waiting restrictions on London Road, Wheatley as advertised and described in the report CMDE7.

Signed…………………………………………..

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing……………………………….

Forward Plan Ref: 2016/105

Contact: Owen Jenkins, Service Manager – Highways, Transport & Waste Tel: (01865) 323304

Report by Interim Deputy Director for Environment & Economy - Commercial (CMDE10).

The report presents an objection and comments received in the course of a statutory consultation on the proposal to install a puffin crossing on the London Road at Wheatley northwest of its junction with The Glebe.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment is RECOMMENDED to approvethe implementation of the proposal as advertised and described in the report.

Deferred to allow officers to review whether there were other options to provide a crossing in this general area, and to report back the results of any re-consultation as required

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered (CMDE10) responses received to a statutory consultation on a proposal to install a puffin crossing on the London Road, Wheatley northwest of its junction with The Glebe.

Andrew Johnson speaking for the St Mary’s Action Group considered that the proposed revised siting was an improvement it still did not in their view represent the best siting.  That in their view was between The Glebe and the western access of the new development and although not ideal in every respect it was the best practical solution as there were perceived safety issues with the proposed siting which was not considered to be on the optimum desire line.  He confirme that South Oxfordshire District Council and Wheatley parish Council supported their proposed revised siting.

Councillor Anne Purse endorsed the comments made by Mr Johnson and also referred to concerns regarding speeding.

Mr Tole referred to government guidance that crossings should not be sited within 20m of a junction and the constraints here meant that there was not enough room between The Glebe and the new development junction to comply with that guidance although officers had tried to get it as close as possible.  Rules governing zebra crossing were not as stringent but were not as effective where speeds were above a certain threshold, In view of the representations he suggested that the current proposal be deferred and that officers work with the developer and consultants to see if a humped zebra crossing with regard to issues of addressing speeding traffic could be delivered within the parameters of the development.  If that was not possible then the current proposal would need to be brought back to the Cabinet Member for decision.

The Cabinet Member for Environment had visited the site and he agreed that the issue was to ascertain the best siting and what could be delivered.  Therefore having regard to the information set out in the report before him and the representations made to him at the meeting he confirmed his decision as follows:

to defer consideration of the current proposal to install a puffin crossing on London Road, Wheatley to allow officers to review whether there were other options to provide a crossing in this general area and to report back the results of any re-consultation as required.

Signed…………………………………….

Cabinet Member for Environment

Dated……………………………………..